Which protocol is commonly used for transferring files to and from network devices?

The correct choice of protocol for transferring files to and from network devices is TFTP, or Trivial File Transfer Protocol. TFTP is specifically designed for ease of use and lightweight operations, making it well-suited for situations where devices need to transfer files efficiently, such as firmware updates or configuration files on routers and switches.

TFTP operates over UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which allows for faster transfer speeds compared to other protocols that may require more overhead due to connection establishment and error recovery processes. This speed and simplicity make TFTP ideal for network environments where devices may be limited in resources and where quick file transfers are needed.

Other options may have their uses, but they are typically not as appropriate in the context of transferring files to and from network devices as TFTP. For example, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) are more feature-rich but also more complex and resource-intensive, which may not be suitable for all networking devices. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is specialized for email transmission and does not serve the purpose of file transfer effectively.